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South Carolina Endorsements—Republicans

The Republican presidential candidates look for endorsements from federal, statewide and local elected officials as well as former elected officials and prominent figures.  The Republican Party is very strong in South Carolina, so there are a lot of GOP elected officials to woo.  Republicans have 7 of 8 members of the congressional delegation, all nine state-wide constitutional offices, 28 of 46 members of the state Senate, and 78 of 124 members of the House.  For the 2012 cycle, Democracy in Action found for Republicans 12 of 27 state Senators and 46 of 76 state Representatives made an endorsement in the primary.  This cycle there appeared to be considerably fewer endorsements by state Representatives, possibly due to the candidacy of home state U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham (Graham ended his candidacy on Dec. 21).
Democrats  |  Republicans

revised March 13, 2016  
NATIONAL  |  IOWA  |  NEW HAMPSHIRE  |  SOUTH CAROLINA   |   NEVADA          

Federal
U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham (elected 2002)  BUSH Jan. 15, 2016 + 
U.S. Sen. Tim Scott (appointed Dec. 2012; elected 2014)  RUBIO Feb. 2, 2016 +
CD-1 Rep. Mark Sanford (coast from NC border to Charleston County; i.e. Lowcountry)  CRUZ Feb. 19, 2016 +
CD-2 Rep. Joe Wilson (Columbia to Beaufort and Hilton Head Island, elected in 2001)  RUBIO reported Feb 20, 2016 +
CD-3 Rep. Jeff Duncan (southwest, elected 2010)  CRUZ Feb. 2, 2016 +
CD-4 Rep. Trey Gowdy (Greenville-Spartanburg, elected 2010)  RUBIO Dec. 29, 2015 +
CD-5 Rep. Mick Mulvaney (northern SC, elected 2010)  PAUL Sept. 21, 2015 +

State
Gov. Nikki Haley  RUBIO Feb. 17, 2016 +
Lt. Gov. Henry McMaster  TRUMP an. 27, 2016 +
Secretary of State Mark Hammond
Treasurer Curtis M. Loftis, Jr.
Attorney General Alan Wilson
Comptroller General Richard Eckstrom
State Superintendent of Education Molly Spearman  BUSH Feb. 17, 2016 +
Commissioner of Agriculture Hugh E Weathers  BUSH Feb. 1, 2016 +
Adjuntant General Major General Bob Livingston BUSH Feb. 10, 2016 +

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Senate Republicans (28) +
Name Occupation
YOB
Senator Since
District - City/Town
County(ies)


Hugh Leatherman
President Pro Tem
businessman
'53
1981
31 - Florence
Florence,
Darlington


Harvey Peeler
Majority Leader
dairyman/
businessman
'48
1981
14 - Gaffney
Cherokee, Spartanburg,
Union, York


Thomas Alexander
businessman-office supply
'56
Oct. 1994*
1 - Walhalla
Oconee, Pickens


Sean Bennett
financial planner
'68
2013
38 - Summerville
Dorchester, Berkeley, Charleston


Lee Bright
transportation
'70
2009
12 - Roebuck
Spartanburg, Greenville
CRUZ annc'd May 5, 2015
+
Kevin Bryant
pharmacist
'67
2005
3 - Anderson
Anderson


Paul Campbell
retired/
consultant
'46
Aug. 2007
44 - Goose Creek
Berkeley, Charleston, Dorchester
KASICH annc'd Dec. 21, 2015 +
Chip Campsen
businessman,
attorney
'59
2005*
43 - Charleston
Charleston, Beaufort, Colleton


Ray Cleary
dentist
'48
2005
34 - Murrells Inlet
Georgetown, Charleston, Horry
KASICH annc'd Oct. 21, 2015
+
Tom Corbin
businessman
'65
2013*
5 - Travelers Rest
Greenville,
Spartanburg


John Courson
insurance executive
'44
1985
20 - Columbia
Richland,
Lexington


Ronnie Cromer
pharmacist
'47
Apr. 2003
18 - Prosperity
Newberrry,
Lexington, Union
KASICH annc'd Feb. 15, 2016 +
Tom Davis
attorney
''60
2009
46 - Beaufort
Beaufort, Jasper
PAUL Aprl 9, 2015

Mike Fair
insurance
'46
1995*
6 - Greenville
Greenville


Greg Gregory
pres., builders supply co.
'63
1993-2008
Apr. 2011
16 - Lancaster
Lancaster, York
KASICH annc'd Dec. 21, 2015 +
Larry Grooms
businessman

Nov. 1997
37 - Charleston
Berkeley, Charleston
RUBIO reported Feb. 5, 2016
+
Wes Hayes
attorney
'52
Sept. 1991*
15 - Rock Hill
York


Greg Hembree
attorney
'60
2013
28 - N. Myrtle Beach
Horry, Dillon


Larry Martin
textiles

1993*
2 - Pickens
Pickens


Shane Martin
engineer, business owner
'71
2009
13 - Pauline
Spartanburg, Greenville, Union


Shane Massey
attorney
'75
Nov. 2007
25 - Edgefield
Edgefield, Aiken, Lex., McC, Saluda


Billy O'Dell

ceo
'38
1989
4 - Ware Shoals
Abbeville, Anderson, Greenwood


Luke Rankin
attorney
'62
1993
33 - Conway
Horry


Katrina Shealy
insurance
consultant
'54
2013
23 - Lexington
Lexington
BUSH annc'd Nov. 3, 2015
+
Paul Thurmond
attorney
'76
2013
41 - Charleston
Charleston,
Dorchester
BUSH annc'd Oct. 22, 2015
+
Ross Turner
president of insur. agency
'64
2013
8 - Greenville
Greenville
BUSH Feb. 17, 2016 +
Danny Verdin
owner, farm & garden center
'64
2001
9 - Laurens
Laurens, Greenville


Tom Young
attorney
'71
2013*
24 - Aiken
Aiken



* indicattes previous service in House.

BUSH
CRUZ
KASICH
PAUL
RUBIO
Katrina Shealy
Paul Thurmond
Ross Turner
Lee Bright
Paul Campbell, Jr.
Ray Cleary
Ronnie Cromer
Greg Gregory
Tom Davis
Larry Grooms



House Republicans (78) +
Name Occupation YOB
State Rep. Since
District - City/Town
County


Jay Lucas +
Speaker
attorney
'57
1999
65 - Hartsville
Darlington, Cfield, Kers., Lanc.


Tommy Pope
Speaker Pro Tem
attorney
'62
2011
47 - York
York


Bruce Bannister
Majority Leader
attorney
'72
2005
24 - Greenville
Greenville
BUSH Jan. 5, 2016
>
Gary Simrill
Assist. Majority Leader
businessman
'66
1993
46 - Rock Hill
York


Eddie Tallon
Majority Whip
ret. law enforcement
'44
2011
33 - Spartanburg
Spartanburg










Rita Allison
communications

1993-2002
2009
36 - Lyman
Spartanburg, Greenville


Todd Atwater
ceo, SC Medical Assoc.
'66
2011
87 - Lexington
Lexington
RUBIO Jan. 26, 2016
+
Nathan Ballentine
vp, Wells Fargo Home Mortgage
'70
2005
71 - Chapin
Richland, Lexington
RUBIO June 16, 2015 tweet
Eric Bedingfield
real estate, businessman
'67
2007
28 - Belton
Greenville


Kenny Bingham
civil engineer/
consultant
'62
2001
89 - Cayce
Lexington


Jeff Bradley
financial advisor
'57
2014
123 - Hilton Head Island
Beaufort
KASICH Nov. 18, 2015
+
Doug Brannon
attorney
'61
2011
38 - Landrum
Spartanburg


Mike Burns
businessman
'52
2013
17 - Taylors
Greenville


Bill Chumley
landscaping/farmer
'47
2011
35 - Woodruff
Greenville, Spartanburg
CRUZ May 5, 2015 +
Gary Clary
ret. circuit judge
'48
2014
3 - Central
Pickens
KASICH Oct. 21, 2015 +








Alan Clemmons
real estate attorney
businessman
'58
2003
107 - Myrtle Beach
Horry


Derham Cole, Jr.
attorney
'77
2009
32 - Spartanburg
Spartanburg


Neal Collins
attorney
'82
2014
5 - Easley
Pickens
RUBIO May 9, 2015 tweet

Chris Corley
attorney
'80
2014
84 - Graniteville
Aiken


Heather Crawford
businesswoman/
realtor

2012
68 - Socastee
Horry
KASICH Aug. 17, 2015
+
Bill Crosby
ret. businessman

2011
117 - No. Charleston
Berkeley,
Charleston


Joseph Daning
educator
'42
Mar. 2008
92 - Goose Creek
Berkeley


Greg Delleney, Jr.
attorney
'52
Oct. 1991
43 - Chester
Chester, York
HUCKABEE Aug. 16, 2015
+
Greg Duckworth
landscape architect/owner
'64
2014
104 - Myrtle Beach
Horry


Shannon Erickson
teacher, owner
'63
Oct. 2007
124 - [Beaufort Co.]
Beaufort










Raye Felder
businesswoman,
insurance sales

2013
26 - Fort Mill
York


Kirkman Finlay
business owner
'70
2013
75 - Columbia
Richland
BUSH Feb. 17, 2016
+
Mike Forrester
economic development
'51
2009
34 - Spartanburg
Spartanburg


Russell Fry
attorney
'85
2015
106 - Surfside Beach
Horry


Craig Gagnon
chiropractor
'60
2013
11 - Abbeville
Abbeville, Anderson


Mike Gambrell
self employed
'58
2007
7 - Honea Path
Anderson, Abbeville


Stephen Goldfinch, Jr.
attorney
'82
2013
108 - Murrells Inlet
Georgetown, Charleston


Dan Hamilton
businessman
'76
2009
20 - Taylors
Greenville
RUBIO Jan. 26, 2016
+
Kevin Hardee
real estate agent
'65
2012
105 - Loris
Horry


Phyllis Henderson
businesswoman

Dec. 2010
21 - Greer
Greenville
FIORINA Aug. 13, 2015
KASICH Feb. 12, 2016
+
+








Bill Herbkersman
eco-developer
'58
2003
118 - Bluffton
Beaufort, Jasper


Donna C. Hicks
business owner
'60
2013
37 - Boiling Springs
Spartanburg
FIORINA July 16, 2015
KASICH Feb. 11, 2016
+
+
Jonathon D. Hill
businessman
'85
2014
8 - Townville
Anderson


David R. "Davey" Hiott
owner of printing company
'60
2005
4 - Pickens
Anderson


Bill Hixon
Hixon Realty
Hixon Insurance
'57
2011
83 - North Augusta
Aiken, Edgefield


Jenny Anderson Horne
attorney
'72
2009
94 - Summerville
Dorchester, Charleston


Chip Huggins
dir. bus. dev. for Duraclean
'61
Aug. 1999
85 - Columbia
Lexington


Jeffrey E. "Jeff" Johnson
attorney/
businessman
'71
2014
58 - Conway
Horry


Ralph Kennedy, Jr.
business owner/ attorney
'58
2013
39 - Leesville
Lexington,
Saluda


Chip Limehouse, III
comm. real estate,
management
'62
1995
110 - Charleston
Charleston
KASICH Dec. 22, 201 +








Dwight A. Loftis
ret. insurance agent
'43
1996-2010
?
19 - Greenville
Greenville


Deborah A. Long
optomistrist
'55
2009
46 - Indian Land
Lancaster, York


Phillip D. Lowe
physical therapist,
developer

2007
60 - Florence
Darlington,
Florence


Peter M. McCoy, Jr.
attorney
'78
2011
115 - Charleston
Charleston
PAUL Nov. 24, 2015
+
James H. "Jim" Merrill
public relations consultant
'67
2001
99 - Charleston
Berkeley,
Charleston
TRUMP Feb. 25, 2015

V. Stephen "Steve" Moss
ret. banker
'50
Apr. 2009
30 - Blacksburg
Cherokee, York


Dennis C. Moss
ret. law enforcement
'54
2007
29 - Gaffney
Cherokee,
Chester,York
HUCKABEE Oct. 29, 2015
BUSH
+
+
Chris Murphy
attorney
'68
2011
98 - No. Charleston
Dorchester


Wendy K. Nanney
account executive
'65
2009
22 - Greenville
Greenville
CRUZ Sept. 15, 2015
+
Wm. Weston Newton
attorney
'67
2013
120 - Bluffton
Beaufort, Jasper










Ralph Norman
real estate developer
'53
2005-06
Nov. 2009
48 - Rock Hill
York
WALKER Aug. 12, 2015 +
Michael A. "Mike" Pitts
ret. police

2003
14 - Laurens
Laurens,
Greenwood
PAUL Aug. 12, 2015
+
Joshua Putnam
landscape supervisor
'88
Aug. 30, 2011
10 - Piedmont
Anderson, Greenville, Pickens
WALKER Aug. 12, 2015 (hosted Aug. 8 event)
CARSON Nov. 13, 2015 BJU
+
Rick Quinn
campaign consultant
'65
1989-2004
2011
69 - Cayce
Lexington
BUSH Feb. 2016

R. Shannon Riley
businessman

2013
13 - Hodges
Greenwood


Samuel Rivers, Jr.
minister and senior pastor

2013
15 - Goose Creek
Berkeley,
Charleston
BUSH rep'td June 17, 2015
>
Mike Ryhal
businessman
'57
2013
56 - Myrtle Beach
Horry
TRUMP July 9, 2015
+
William "Bill" Sandifer, III
businessman
'45
1995
2 - Seneca
Oconee,
Pickens


J. Gary Simrill
businessman
'66
1993
46 - Rock Hill
York


Garry Smith
businessman
'57
2003
27 - Simpsonville
Greenville
WALKER Aug. 12, 2015
CRUZ Dec. 7, 2015 Furman
+









F. Michael "Mike" Sottile
indep. ins. agent
'48
2009
112 - Isle of Palms
Charleston


Eddie Southard
business owner
'46
Sept. 2011
100 - Monoka Corner
Berkeley


L. Kit Spires
pharmacist/
pharmacy owner
'54
2007
96 - Pelion
Lexington


Tommy M. Stringer
pension consultant
and businessman
'66
2009
18 - Greer
Greenville


Eddie Tallon, Sr.
ret. law enforcement
'44
2011
33 - Spartanburg
Spartanburg


Bill Taylor
ret. media consultant
'46
2011
86 - Aiken
Aiken


Anne J. Thayer
properties owner

2011
9 - Belton
Anderson


McLain R. "Mac" Toole
businessman
'46
2003
88 - West Columbia
Lexington


Don L. Wells
owner of Park Avenue Paints
'59
2013
81 - Aiken
Aiken


W. Brian White


2001
6 - Anderson
Anderson










William "Bill" Whitmire
ret. educator, owner S&W Farms
'48
2003
1 - Walhalla
Oconee


Mark N. Willis
long term care admin.
'63
2009
16 - Fountain Inn
Greenville, Laurens


Richard L. "Richie" Yow
Air Force veteran
'74
2014
53 - Chesterfield
Chesterfield, Lancaster


Note: Nelson Hardwick (Dist. 106 - Surfside Beach) resigned May 12, 2015.  Special election primary on July 28, 2015, runoff on Aug. 11,
general election on Sept. 15.  Attorney Russell Fry (R) won the runoff and was unopposed in September. 

BUSH
CARSON
CRUZ
FIORINA
HUCKABEE
Bruce Bannister
Kirkman Finlay
Dennis C. Moss*
Richard Quinn
Samuel Rivers Jr.
Josh Putnam
Bill Chumley
Wendy Nanney
Garry Smith*
Phyllis Henderson
Donna C. Hicks
Greg Delleney, Jr.
Dennis C. Moss

KASICH PAUL
RUBIO
TRUMP
WALKER
Jeffrey Bradley
Heather Crawford
Gary Clary
Phyllis Henderson*
Donna Hicks*
Chip Limehouse, III
Peter McCoy
Mike Pitts
Todd Atwater
Nathan Ballentine
Neal Collins
Dan Hamilton
James H. (Jim) Merrill
Mike Ryhal
Ralph Norman
Josh Putnam
Garry Smith
*Putnam and Smith supported Walker until he dropped out.  Moss supported Huckabee until he dropped out.  Henderson and Hicks supported Fiorina until she dropped out.  Richard Quinn, longtime advisor to Graham, signed on with the pro-Bush super PAC Right to Rise USA to "help with strategy and polling" in mid-Feb. 2016.





_________
Local Elected Officials

46 Counties and 269 incorporated cities and towns
*  *  *

SC Republican Party State Central Committee
Congressional District Chairmen, Vice-Chairmen, and State Chairmen of official Republican auxiliaries are ex-officio members of the state committee.

Voting members of the State Executive Committee are the State Committeeman from each county, the National Committeeman, the National Committeewoman, president of the state Federation of Republican Women, the state First Vice-Chairman when not presiding.

Officers
Mr. Matt Moore, Columbia
State Chairman


Mrs. Cindy Costa
, Folly Beach
National Committeewoman

Mr. Glenn McCall, Rock Hill
National Committeeman

State Senator Katrina Shealy, Lexington
First Vice Chairman

Mr. Nse Ekpo, Greenville
Second Vice Chairman

Mr. Taylor Mason, Charleston
Third Vice Chairman

Congressional District Chairs

Mr. Jim Davis, Charleston
First Congressional District Chairman

Mr. Ben Kinlaw, Barnwell
Second Congressional District Chairman

Mrs. Susan Aiken, Anderson
Third Congressional District Chairman

Mrs. Suzette Jordan, Greenville
Fourth Congressional District Chairman

Mr. Brandon Newton, Lancaster
Fifth Congressional District Chairman

Mr. Moye Graham, Manning
Sixth Congressional District Chairman

Mr. Jerry Rovner, Pawley's Island
Seventh Congressional District Chairman

Affiliate Chairs

Miss Melissa Byars, Lexington
South Carolina Teenage Republicans Chairman

Miss Grace Kerley, Columbia
South Carolina College Republicans Chairman

Mrs. Kim Wellman, Lexington
South Carolina Federation of Republican Women President

Mr. Billy Simons, Charleston
South Carolina Young Republicans Chairman


County Leaders +



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